Fox (The Player Book 4) Read online

  “No, it’s great. I actually love this movie. It just reminds me that I haven’t had an orgasm in, what, five months? Even longer since I’ve been kissed like that.”

  He coughed. “What the hell?” She couldn’t be serious.

  She shrugged and rolled her eyes. “Yeah, tell me about it.” She turned her whole body toward him as she explained. “I mean the kissing thing is almost worse, because at least with Battery Operated Boyfriend I can get an orgasm. But the kissing...man, I miss that. You know that kind of kiss that you sink into. The ones you take your time with, even though you aren’t sure if the person likes you or not. There’s a little bit of anxiety and anticipation, but you want the kiss to last forever.” She took a breath. “You know, the kind that makes your toes curl and your senses singe with heat. I miss those. Ryan didn’t like to kiss.”

  Fox threw up his hands. “Who doesn’t like to kiss?”

  “Apparently, Ryan. He said that French kissing weirded him out. That it was unsanitary.”

  Fox glared at her. “Are you fucking serious? I mean, the orgasms, the dude should be shot for that alone. I mean, how do you have a girl like you and not give her constant orgasms. But the kissing thing, that should be criminal. How long has it been since you’ve been kissed?”

  Sasha blushed and darted her eyes down to the bowl of popcorn. “Let’s see, we started dating about thirteen months ago. So yeah, thirteen months.”

  Fox gawked. His eyes wide, mouth open, the whole bit. “You’re telling me he never kissed you? You’re Sasha Tenison. I know guys to this day that would give their left nut to kiss you. I’d be damned if I had you and didn't kiss you.”

  Sasha laughed. “Now I know you’re just trying to make me feel better. But it’s true. He loved sex, of course, and wanted plenty of it, but he just wouldn’t kiss me.”

  Fox couldn’t believe it. With lips like hers? They always looked so plump, almost too full for her face, but matched her features perfectly. She looks like one of those Bratz Dolls. Minus the slutty clothing, of course. Stop it. This is Sasha, but that guy was a moron.

  Where did all that come from? Probably from the same place that offered up those inappropriate thoughts about her. The same place the devil lived, and Fox didn’t need to go there.

  “Sash, he’s a moron. Any guy in his right mind would give anything they could to kiss you. Especially if they were dating you. Kissing’s half the fun.” Fox shook his head. “I mean, not that I want the details mind you, but how did foreplay work?”

  Sasha blushed. “Well, he’d start kissing my neck. That part I didn’t mind. And obviously—” She looked at her chest and pointed to the parts of herself that Fox swore a mere three minutes ago he would never look at again. And now she was dragging his attention right back to the most perfect pair of tits he’d ever seen. Like a fool, he couldn’t help but look.

  “Okay, yeah, I don’t want to know about that.”

  Sasha laughed. “Yeah. So I underestimated how watching a romantic comedy would make me feel, especially with all the kissing. I miss it.”

  Fox gave her another glance. “Yeah, I can imagine. That’s just—crazy.”

  They continued to watch the movie, but Fox’s attention was elsewhere. He kept trying to figure out how someone as gorgeous as Sasha could go a year without being kissed. When another scene came on, she groaned. This scene was worse. This scene was leading up to more than just kissing.

  “We can watch something else if you want,” Fox offered.

  “No, it’s fine. You know, maybe I’m just going to go hang in my room. Read or something. It’s my first night off in a while, and I’m ruining it. I need to just relax.”

  She set aside the popcorn, but before she could stand, Fox reached out his hand and wrapped it around her wrist. “Sasha, wait.”

  What the hell was he doing? Although he was fully aware, he couldn’t believe what he was about to say. “You deserve someone to kiss you. It’s really shitty that Ryan refused to.”

  “Thanks, Fox. It’s my stupid choice for staying with him for so long. I mean, that’s just weird, right? No kissing, that’s ridiculous.”

  He nodded. “Yes, it’s ridiculous. I’ll kiss you.” The words tumbled out before he could chicken out.

  Sasha’s mouth fell open. “What?”

  Did he actually say that out loud? There’s only one thing to do in a scenario like this. Double down.

  Fox shrugged. “Yeah, look, we’re friends, so obviously none of this means anything. Plus, you need to be kissed, to be reminded that the douchesac and his hangups aren’t you. You didn’t do anything wrong in this scenario except stay with him for too long. I’m actually pretty good at it, and I’ll be sure to make your toes curl.”

  She stared at him for a long second. “Wouldn’t that be weird? We’re best friends.”

  Fox shook his head. “Nope. Just look at it as an exercise and a chance to practice. You can practice on me, rather than the next guy.”

  She gasped. “Oh, my God, you might be right. I’ve been so used to doing it Ryan’s way for so long. It will take a while to get back into the swing of things.”

  He nodded sagely. “Hence, I’m offering you my services. That guy was a dumbass. You deserve someone who kisses you.”

  She swallowed visibly. “And this isn’t weird for you at all?”

  Fox shook his head. “Nope.” Liar.

  “So how does this work? Are you gonna stand up and kiss me? That’s bizarre.”

  Fox’s heart thumped rapidly against his rib cage, and he feared that the thing would burst. He tried to stay calm by drawing slow, even breaths. “No, just come sit by me. Watch the movie. We’ll just chill out and let it happen naturally like it should. Like it does for people everyday.”

  For a moment he thought she wouldn’t go along. He thought she’d walk away. But she eventually sat next to him with the popcorn bowl acting as a barrier.

  Fox set the popcorn on the other side of his feet and then pulled Sasha closer to him. “Relax, it’s just a kiss. C’mon, how long have we known each other? You’re not dating anyone right now, and I’m clearly not looking for a girlfriend. I just think it’s a travesty that no one has kissed you in over a year. This is a friend thing.” The hell it was. He was desperate to taste her.

  Sasha nodded as if what he had said made total sense. That was astonishing, because he had no idea what he was talking about. He hugged her tight to him like he normally did. She eventually leaned against him, her body melting into his. Their shared warmth created an impenetrable cocoon.

  They watched the movie for a few more minutes, Fox with his arm around her, casually stroking her shoulder. He was so aware of her. Her apple-scented shampoo, the fine strands of her dark hair almost dancing on his fingertips. He watched her breathing. At this point in the movie, the hero had swung his girl around before planting another kiss on her. Fox leaned over, Sasha looking up expectantly. First her glance was questioning, but then it morphed into curiosity.

  Fox angled his head, even as his fingertips still played in her hair. He shifted his other hand to her face, cradling it to remind her that this was him. She could trust him.

  This is just a kiss. Fox’s thoughts swirled in his head. Liar.

  He gently brushed his lips to hers. There was an immediate spark.

  What the hell?

  Instead of pulling back, Fox chased that spark. Sasha parted her lips in a gasp, his tongue sliding into the warm depth of her mouth. His tongue asking hers to play. She stroked her tongue against his, and he moaned. He couldn’t help it. He deepened the kiss while his hand slid from her jaw into her hair.

  Sasha reached up, her arms winding around his neck. Her fingers teased the hair at his nape.

  Oh, hell, Fox thought. This was not supposed to—

  Sasha arched her back into the kiss, pressing her breasts firmly against his body, and Fox lost total control as he continued to chase the spark as if it were pulling her further and further in
to him. He dove headfirst into the abyss.

  The two of them had just entered completely uncharted territory. It started from something silly. Now it was all too serious. He leaned her backwards, both of them shifting and sliding until she lay along the length of the couch, Fox over her, his hips nestled between her thighs. His lips never leaving hers.

  His cock rested against her burning heat as he pressed against her, begging her to let him in. His mind sought any remaining shred of control, but it was long gone. Sasha, his best friend, tasted fucking incredible. He couldn’t help but gently rock his hips against her, and what do you know, Sasha widened her legs to give him more room.

  He held himself slightly above her, so as to not crush her with his full weight. All the while she rocked her hips up, seeking more of him, and he couldn’t help himself. In the matter of a minute they had gone from friendly kissing to desperately pawing at each other. He slipped his hand under her tank top.

  She’s so damn soft. I just want a taste of her belly button, and up along the bottom of her ribcage.

  Sasha arched up as if inviting him. God, yes. He wanted to slide his hand up farther still, cupping her fullness in his palm. He wanted to see how well they fit together. The thought had been clawing at him for so long. The alarm bells blared, but the devil on his shoulder just shouted over the din. Go on. Cup her. You know you want to. She wants it too. She wants your hands on her. Your thumbs on her nipple. But somehow rationality prevailed, and he just barely managed to keep from sliding his palm up over her full curves.

  It took his lips longer to get the memo though. When they finally did, they staged a small mutiny before he dragged them away from hers as gently as he could. He kissed along her jaw-line and had to force himself to sit up and back away…all the way over to the far side of the couch. Whatever the hell had happened here was very dangerous. Destructive.

  He couldn’t live without Sasha, he needed her like he needed to breathe. He knew what he was like, so he wasn’t going to ruin this by taking it to a point of no return. He took her hand and tugged her into a sitting position.

  “Now that’s how that dipshit should have been kissing you.” he said before settling back against the couch like she hadn’t just rocked his whole world upside down.

  Seven

  After meeting with Echo on Tuesday, Sasha put in her notice at the restaurant. Echo was going to pay her three times what she made in tips, for a fraction of the work.

  “The manager said that I didn’t even have to come in for my shifts the rest of the week,” she told Fox. “I’m not sure whether to be relieved or insulted.” She joined him on the couch, careful not to touch him.

  “Well, congratulations on your newfound freedom from the food service industry,” Fox mumbled as she munched on her salad. She expected it to be a late night at the station, so she figured dinner at home was prudent. Besides, she liked hanging at home these days.

  “I’ve got a night off on Friday,” he said. “Practice will be over by five, at the latest. So what do you say we go out to celebrate? I desperately need to, uh…find some company, if you know what I mean.”

  She blinked. When she finally computed that Fox might be bringing some bottle blonde back to the apartment, she swallowed hard. “Um…yeah, I know what you mean.” She didn’t. She liked their bubble. “And…sure, I guess. I should be able to get out of work at the station in time for a night out,” she said with a shrug as she had a sudden urge to hunt down her shoes.

  In reality, she needed a second to sort through her feelings. “Actually,” she said. “It will kind of work out perfectly. There’s this after-work thing on Friday that I’ve been dreading. If I have plans with you I can get out of it, and I won’t have to see Ryan. Hanging with you would be a much better start to the weekend. And hey, maybe I can find a hot guy, too. I don’t have time for a relationship, but I wouldn’t mind flirting a little. It would be nice to talk to someone who actually saw me, you know?”

  She slid her gaze over to Fox, who was staring at his phone, jaw slack.

  “Fox? Are you okay? Did something happen?” She found the shoe and sat next to him to slip it on, taking the chance to peer at his phone.

  “I, uh…I have a voicemail from Coach Tremblay,” Fox murmured.

  “What did he say?”

  “I haven’t listened to it yet.”

  “Well, go on, then.” Sasha tucked her feet up onto the seat beside her.

  His hands visibly shook, as he took a deep breath and punched in his voicemail retrieval codes.

  “Looks like Rhodes is retiring.” Coach started. “We’re working with the team’s publicity staff to draft a statement, and the team has been pushing for more time to prep Henri. In the meantime, however, we’re going with the excuse of having to break in the new guy to cover for Rhodes until the announcement.”

  Sasha held her breath as they listened.

  “We’ll also be needing a new backup brought up, so you’ll have some time to show us what you can do with the rest of the team. Give me a call back, and I’ll give you more of the details for the upcoming practice and game schedules. We’ll send the paperwork to your agent.”

  Fox sat stock-still, dazed and unmoving. Sasha grabbed him by the shoulders.

  “This is fantastic! Congratulations!” She threw her arms around him. For one brief moment, they sat like that, Sasha pouring all her joy into the hug and Fox holding her close, his big body engulfing hers. Like the night they’d kissed, something bloomed low in her belly, and she ached for something…more. She wanted more of this. Stop it. Fox Coulter is not on the menu. You’ll only get hurt. And unlike any past boyfriends, the pain would be intense when Fox decided he was tired of her.

  “I… That…wasn’t what I was expecting,” he managed to mumble while Sasha shook him in her excitement.

  “Call him back, call him back,” she chanted as she danced on the balls of her feet. “I’ve got to go finish putting my stuff together and get in to the station, but call me as soon as you talk to him. I want to know everything!”

  Fox only continued staring at the phone. “I fucking made it.”

  She grinned. “You fucking made it.” She nodded exuberantly. “You can say it now.”

  He blinked at her and frowned. “Say what?”

  “You were right, Sasha.”

  A smile cracked through and suddenly, she had the fun-loving Fox back. “The hell I will.” But still, he picked her up and swung her around. “I fucking made it.”

  “Yes, yes you did. And tonight, we celebrate.”

  Sasha hummed the whole way into the station. She’d been worried after the night he’d shown up at her place. But this opportunity would certainly help snap him out of his funk. Now, all he had to do was believe in himself. Easier said than done.

  “You look like you’re in a good mood,” Jeanine, her desk mate, said as Sasha dropped her things on her desk. “Good news on your story?”

  Sasha deflated a little. “That’s…coming along, but no. The news is actually more on personal front. I got a better part-time gig so I was able to quit the restaurant. And my friend, Fox…he might have gotten a promotion. I’m waiting for him to call me with the details after he talks to his new boss.”

  “Wait, Fox? The hot one? Isn’t he your roommate now?” Jeanine asked, her curiosity taking over. “You guys keeping things platonic or is it, er, not an issue?”

  Sasha frowned, then a laugh burst forth. “He’s not gay,” Sasha said with a roll of her eyes. “And yes on the platonic thing. We’ve known each other since we were kids, so…we’re more like…siblings, I guess…maybe cousins. Anyway, now we have two things to celebrate when we go out on Friday night.” Never mind that the man could deliver a panty-melting kiss.

  “But Friday we’ve got that—”

  “The thing is, with Fox’s work schedule I don’t know that it’ll be easy for him to change plans like that. I’ll have to let you guys know on Friday, but I probably won’t be able
to go after all.”

  Jeanine eyed Sasha with a sly grin. “If you’re doing all this to avoid Ryan, I can’t say that I blame you,” she whispered. “You’re well rid of him. The guy’s a tool.”

  Sasha wondered just how many of her friends believed that.

  She snapped open her laptop and got to work. There were several messages on her machine from agents and players directly, whom she’d approached about being interviewed for her story.

  It took her several hours to call them all back, but by the time she was done, she felt like she had a solid lineup for her piece. She had also received a list of leads for psychologists to approach, for both on-camera interviews and explanations of the various studies she had printed and stacked on her desk next to a pack of highlighters.

  Fox called at lunch to give her an update. “I took it,” he told her. “I have to go in this afternoon to sign some stuff, but they’re working on making up some jerseys for me now.”

  “That’s fantastic!” Sasha exclaimed. But she knew him well enough to check his mood. No one wanted to be second-best. “How’re you feeling about it? Still excited?”

  Some of his earlier exuberance had faded. “I’m all right, I guess. I don’t know that it’ll really sink in until I get out there on the ice, you know? Kind of in shock still.”

  “Have you called your parents yet?”

  That one beat of silence told her everything. “No, you’re the only one who knows so far. And the team people, obviously. I was kind of putting off telling them. The team doesn’t want it getting out before they make their official statement.”

  And you’re afraid it could go away. She knew him well. “Of course. My lips are sealed,” she told him, and though she knew he couldn’t see it, she mimed locking them and throwing away the key.

  “So this whole thing means that my game and practice schedule has changed, and I won’t be able to go out and celebrate your dumping the restaurant on Friday night,” he said.

  “Well…when are you free? I’ll make my schedule work around yours. It’s a lot easier for me to do that now,” she said. “And we need to celebrate your gig, too! A night on the town before your new responsibilities remove you from the pleasures of my company.”